Bushy Run Battlefield State Historic Park
Westmoreland
DESCRIPTION: This is a Pennsylvania Historic Site park where the Battle of Bushy Run took place in 1763. The habitat includes mixed deciduous forest with some coniferous sections, grass, and brushy weeds providing a wide range of habitats. However, there are no ponds or water sources that would attract waterfowl and wading birds. The grounds of the park are open during the day from 8 to 5 on most days. The historic museum dedicated to the battle is open from April 1 to October 31 on Wednesdays to Sundays from 9 to 5. The 2009 cuts in funding have made it difficult to keep things open every single day, but the parking lot on the southern side of PA 993 is usually open 24 hours a day. Over 130 species of birds have been seen in the park over the last 12 years. Almost any bird that is not waterfowl or a wading bird has been observed, although some of them have only been seen once. The spring and fall migration periods produce the most variety of species in the park. Warblers migrate through in the spring and fall with Hooded Warblers, Ovenbirds, and usually (not every year) Kentucky Warblers have nested in the wooded sections of the park over the summer period. Most species of woodpeckers, Acadian Flycathers, Wood Thrushes, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are resident summer nesters. Most winter invasion species have been recorded at the park when they occur and winter residents include Carolina Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, White-throated Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco. The Edge Hill trail that circles the wooded portion of the park produces a good variety of birds during the spring and summer migration periods and a lot of the nesting species occur along it. The weedy-brushy area on the southwestern side of the park also produced a number of good edge species (Northern Mockingbird, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal and Indigo Bunting) from the spring through the fall.

DIRECTIONS: From US 30 on the west side of Greensburg, take Turnpike Route 66 north to the Harrison City Exit (2.7 miles). Turn left onto old PA 66 and follow it for 1.2 miles to PA 993 (aka. Bushy Run Road/Old Forbes Road). Turn left and follow PA 993 west 3.2 miles to the main entrance to Bushy Run Battlefield on the right. There is a parking lot down the entrance road that is available for use usually from 9 to 5 and 8 to 5 during the week. The southern parking lot on the south side of PA 993 that you will pass before reaching the main entrance is usually open 24 hours a day.

 

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Posted: 2009-11-23 00:00:00
Updated: